Location of factory amp and disable

[Gossamer]

In my 2002 Tahoe I have a Sony MEXXB100BT stereo that has an amp built in.
It sounds great but I feel like the amp isn't fully doing its job. I can easily turn it up to level 50 without distortion and it still isn't fully loud.
It worked as it should in a '78 Malibu punching a ton of power to 4 speakers.
I have kicker speakers in all 4 doors and a powered 250 watt bazooka tube under the middle seat which provides crazy bass.
I have unplugged the rear bass and the rear pillar speakers.
Something doesn't sound right though. I have heard that the factory amp overrides an aftermarket stereo and what it may actually put out.

Question is....I have read that the factory amp is behind the drivers side. Where though? The panel directly behind the drivers seat or back where the bass box is?
Is there a chance it may be behind the glove box instead?

Is there an easy way to disable it so my Sony is the sole power provider?

 

[Z28TWITCH]

It's behind the glove box on the right hand side. Silver box with 2 connectors worth of wires going into it. As far as bypassing it, I believe Metra makes a harness that'll do it, or you can take the time of going wire by wire. I think I still have the pinout sitting around somewhere.

 

[05Single]

It's behind the glove box on the right hand side. Silver box with 2 connectors worth of wires going into it. As far as bypassing it, I believe Metra makes a harness that'll do it, or you can take the time of going wire by wire. I think I still have the pinout sitting around somewhere.

Yep, behind the glove box.
Metra does make a nice plug n play harness for the 00-02 .
I put in a double din pioneer in my 03 with bose and it woke it up and it sounded great.
Just wish they had the same harness for the 03-06
You have a 03+ pinout @Z28TWITCH ?

 

[Shaw520]

If you are running through the factory harness then indeed your sony amp is being canceled out.

 

[Z28TWITCH]

The factory amplifier has two connectors. C-1 is an 8-pin connector with pins labeled A - H. Pin
connections are as follows:

A Lt Grn/Blk Subwoofer (-)
B Dk Blu/Wht Subwoofer (+)
C - D Not Used
E Orn 12v
F Blk Ground
G Dk Grn Right Rear D pillar speaker (+)
H Lt Blu/Blk Left Rear D Pillar speaker (-)

C-2 is a 24-pin connector with pins labeled A1 - A12 and B1 - B12

A1 Dk Grn RF Speaker (-)
A2 Lt Grn RF Speaker (+)
A3 Lt Blu RR Speaker (-)
A4 Dk Blu RR Speaker (+)
A5 Orn Amplifier feed
A6 Ppl Amplifier gain control
A7 - A8 Not used
A9 Lt Grn RF Audio (-)
A10 Lt Grn RF Audio (+)
A11 Blk RR Audio (-)
A12 Dk Blu RR Audio (+)
B1 Gry LF Speaker (-)
B2 Tan LF Speaker (+)
B3 Yel LR Speaker (-)
B4 Brn LR Speaker (+)
B5 - B8 Not Used
B9 Dk Grn LF Audio (-)
B10 Tan LF Audio (+)
B11 Brn LR Audio (-)
B12 Brn LR Audio (+)

 

[05Single]

The factory amplifier has two connectors. C-1 is an 8-pin connector with pins labeled A - H. Pin
connections are as follows:

A Lt Grn/Blk Subwoofer (-)
B Dk Blu/Wht Subwoofer (+)
C - D Not Used
E Orn 12v
F Blk Ground
G Dk Grn Right Rear D pillar speaker (+)
H Lt Blu/Blk Left Rear D Pillar speaker (-)

C-2 is a 24-pin connector with pins labeled A1 - A12 and B1 - B12

A1 Dk Grn RF Speaker (-)
A2 Lt Grn RF Speaker (+)
A3 Lt Blu RR Speaker (-)
A4 Dk Blu RR Speaker (+)
A5 Orn Amplifier feed
A6 Ppl Amplifier gain control
A7 - A8 Not used
A9 Lt Grn RF Audio (-)
A10 Lt Grn RF Audio (+)
A11 Blk RR Audio (-)
A12 Dk Blu RR Audio (+)
B1 Gry LF Speaker (-)
B2 Tan LF Speaker (+)
B3 Yel LR Speaker (-)
B4 Brn LR Speaker (+)
B5 - B8 Not Used
B9 Dk Grn LF Audio (-)
B10 Tan LF Audio (+)
B11 Brn LR Audio (-)
B12 Brn LR Audio (+)

For 00-02 only ?

 

[Gossamer]

Alright....thanks guys....great info